A senior councillor is fighting for a 20mph speed limit in a city road plagued by boy racers, rat running and crashes.

Jamie Osborn, Green Party councillor for Mancroft ward, who lives near Old Palace Road in the Heigham area, has called for the new lower limit to stop drivers using the road as a racetrack.

This comes shortly after a serious crash at the end of June saw one man hospitalised and a teenager arrested.

Two cars crashed in Old Palace Road at the end of JuneTwo cars crashed in Old Palace Road at the end of June (Image: Newsquest)

"People consistently speed along the road and then you get a few really bad cases where people just bomb it down the road when it is clear," Cllr Osborn said.

"I'm worried that the recent crash won't be a one-off incident.

"There are schools in the area, several sheltered houses for elderly people and two doctors surgeries. 

Old Palace Road links Dereham Road with Heigham Street and is a magnet for rat-runningOld Palace Road links Dereham Road with Heigham Street and is a magnet for rat-running (Image: Denise Bradley)

"It is really dangerous.

"Parts of Earlham Road are 20mph - so why not Old Palace Road?

"I have a young family, and speeding is on my mind, as it is for a lot of people living in this road."

Green party councillor for Mancroft ward, Jamie Osborn, is calling for a 20mph speed limit in the areaGreen party councillor for Mancroft ward, Jamie Osborn, is calling for a 20mph speed limit in the area (Image: Denise Bradley)

He is not alone in his fear.

READ MORE: City street branded 'dangerous' over number of parked cars

One local mother, who doesn't want her name shared, said that it is "scary" to watch people driving way above the 30mph speed limit.

"I've seen a few people speed through the zebra crossing and nearly take out pedestrians," she said.

"I live in Old Palace Road and have an 18-month-old child, and I am increasingly concerned and anxious about the dangerous driving and 'boy racers' that occur in our road."

Old Palace Road is in HeighamOld Palace Road is in Heigham (Image: Denise Bradley)

Her fears were realised last year when she claims her car was involved in a collision with another driver going way above the speed limit.

"There was a nasty accident on the corner of Clifton Street opposite our house, and 18 months ago somebody crashed into the tree on that corner and hit my car," she explained.

"We hear drivers speeding dangerously down our road a lot, and I'm increasingly worried for everybody's safety in our area, as there are a lot of families and young children around."

Cllr Osborn is set to raise the issue at the Norfolk County Council cabinet meeting on Monday in the hope that some changes can be made.